Pencil sharpener



June 8, 1937.

M. BERSTED 2,082,785

PENGIL-SHARPENER Filed Dec. 2a, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 w 74/ ZZ77 Ber 5ed. b w 5 June 8. 1937. M. BERSTED PENCIL SHARPENE'R 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Dec. 28, 1935 5 M 7 5 a M 0 War 77 257226 e I Ir) Patented June 8,19 37 UNITED sTArss PATENT orricr.

2,082,785 PENCIL SHARPENER Martin Based. Oak Bark, 111.1 ApplicationDecember 28, 1935, Serial No. 56,415 15 Claims. ,(Cl. 120 95) Thepresent invention relates to a pencil sharpener and more particularly toa pencil sharpener. utilizing a revolvable cutter and means forsupporting a pencil while being sharpened, the

5 pencil supporting means revolving with the cutter, to produce asmoother point on a pencil.

The pencil sharpeners in use at the present time, utilizing revolvablecutters, are so constructed that a pencil, while being sharpened, is..10 gradually pushed against the cutter, during a sharpening operation,by the. operator with a result that the sharpened point is sometimesroughened as a result of the cutting and improper movement of..thepencil during sharpening.

l5 Thepresent invention has as an object provision of means forsharpening pencils with a ,cutter'of rotatable. type, wherein thepencil'is rotated simultaneously with the cutter and in such directionas to impart a smooth finish to the sharpened 9,0 point.

Another object of the present invention is to provide, in a pencilsharpener, means for rotating a pencil during a sharpening operation.

A further object of the present invention is 5 to provide, in a pencilsharpener of the rotatable cutter type, means for moving the cuttertowards andaway from an inserted pencil.

. A still ,further object of the present invention isto provide, in apencil. sharpener of therlotat- 30 able cutter type, a pencil receivingmeans for clamping a pencil in position to be sharpened, and means forrotating the pencil receiving means with rotation of the cutter. I

A still further object of the present invention 35 is to provide, in apencil sharpener, an abutment against which the point of the pencil ismoved when inserted, together with means for moving the cutter againstthe pencil to graduallyjaper the pencil to a, point while the pencil isagainst 4.0 said stop.

For a further object the present invention has the provision, in apencil sharpener .ofthe rotatable cutter type, of means for supporting apencil while being sharpened, a single hand operating l5 crank, andconnections between the crank and pencil supporting means and rotatablecutter for rotating the pencil and cutter in opposite directions duringa cutting operation.

Theinvention has also for aiurther object the 50 provision of manuallyoperable means for moving theeutter towards and away from an, insertedpencil.

The above, other and further objects of the present invention will beapparent from the fol- 55 lowing description and accompanying drawings.

partially in, vertical The accompanying drawings illustrate anembodimentof the present invention and the views thereof, as follows:

Figure l is an elevational view of a pencil sharpener constructed inaccordance with the principles of present invention.

Figure 2 is a top planview of the sharpener of Figure 1.

.Figure 3 is a view partially in elevation and section, through thesharpener of Figure 1, showing the relationship of certain of the parts.i

, Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the sharpener of Figure 1,looking at the right hand face of the same.

, Figure 5 is a fragmental view, partially in elevation and partially insection, immediately behind one of the side wallsof the casing, andshowing relationshipbetween a pencil and the rotatable cutter when incutting position.

Figure dis a horizontal sectional view taken substantially in the planeindicated by line VI -VI of Figure 5.

Figure 'I is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially in theplane indicated by line VIIVII of Figure 5.

* Figure 8 is a fragmental vertical sectional view taken along the lineVIII-VIII of Figure 2.

Figure 9 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially in the planeof line IX--IX of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a fragmental vertical sectional view taken in the planeindicated by line X-X of Figure 2.

The drawings will now be explained. The pencil sharpener of the presentinvention contemplates a box-like body A which is herein illustrated asrectangular in plan and elevation. An L-shapedattaching bracket B isutilized to mount the pencil sharpener on any suitable support,--such asa table, desk, window sill, or the like, in position for use.

Generally speaking, the sharpener is usedin vertical position, that is,with a pencil inserted vertically throughthe upper end of the same.

The casing A in plan is U-shaped providing side walls I, 2, and 3, abottom 4, with a fourth wall 5 parallel to the wall 2 and extendingupwardly from the-bottoml terminating short of the upper extremities ofthe walls I, 2, and 3, as best observed in Figure 3.' *Theupper end ofthe sharpener structure comprises a top plate 6 with the descending wall1 against which the wall 5 of the easing A rests, when the parts areassembled. The top plate 6 has lateral grooves 8 in which 32 of the pinfit is a double inturned margins 9 and it] formed on the upperextremities of the walls i and 3, lie to hold the parts in connectedrelation.

Integrally formed as a part of the top plate 6 and the side plate l isan enlargement ll having stepped surfaces It and it on its exterior.This second portion ii is vertically bored as at l4 with an inwardlyextending annular flange l5 formed a slight distance above the plate 6,as may be observed in Figure 8. The flange l5 forms a counterbore it inwhich a spur gear I! is rotatable. The gear i i has rearwardly extendingsegmental portions it, three in number, which are spaced one fromanother, radially, forming radial slots 59 between every two of thesegments. The outer surfaces of these segmental portions are arcuate andare axially bored as at 29. Surrounding the segmental portions l8 is acollar 2| which has formed on its interior three wedges 22 equallyspaced, circumferentially, to enter the spaces l9 between the segmentalportions l8. Integrally formed with the collar 2|, and extend, ing intothe interior thereof, are three lugs 23 which work within the recesses26 of the segmental elements it. interposed between the lugs 23 and thegear El, and disposed within the recesses fat, are springs 24,functioning to hold the collar 2i away from the gear ll.

Wedges 25 are inserted in spaces 29 with their inclined faces inopposition to the inclined faces of the wedges 22 formed as integralparts of the collar 2!. The wedges 25 have faces 26 which, when theparts are assembled, extend axially of the segmental members 18 andprovide surfaces for engaging an inserted pencil C. For retaining thecollar 2i, wedges 25, and springs 25 in operative and assembledrelationship, a disc 2? rests against the outer ends of the wedges 25and is provided with holes for receiving bolts 28 passed through thelugs 23 and are inserted into the top of the gear IT, as illustrated inFigure 8. The disc 2? has a centrally disposed aperture through whichthe pencil C passes. 7 Applied over the outer end of the collar 21 is anapertured, flanged cap 29 which serves to conceal the operative partsjust described, and also serves the purpose of furnishing a grip for theapplication of the thumb or finger of the operator to depress the collarand relieve pressure against wedges 25, for the insertion or removal ofa pencil. Normally the springs 24 move the collar 2! away from the'gearll which action moves the wedges 25 inwardly towards the space for thepencil, and function to grip an inserted pencil and hold it againstmovement in the sharpener.

Adjacent the gear l'l, theinner surface of the plate or plateenlargement H is bored and threaded to receive the threaded end 30 of astem 3!; Next to the threaded end 30 of the pin is a portion 32 whosediameter is greater than the diameter of the threaded end Bil and lessthan the diameter of the balance of the shoulders 33 and 34 on the pin.

Rotatabiy mounted on the intermediate portion gear comprising a largergear 35 and a smaller gear 36, which are preferably separately fashionedand then permanently connected together. When this double gear isinstalled, the smaller gear 36 meshes with the gear ill heretoforedescribed and is against the adjacent face of the enlargement ll of thetop plate of the structure.

Oscillatably mounted on the pin 3| is a sleeve 31 having a shoulderengageable by the shoulder 34 of the pin to hold the sleeve in endwiseengagepin, providing ment against the double gear. Formed as a part ofthe sleeve 3'! is an annularly disposed arm 38.

A pin 39, secured in the arm 38, supports a rotatable cylindrical cutter48 which is arranged with its axis at an angle to the pin 3i and also atan angle to the axis of the inserted pencil C. The inclination of theaxis of the pin 39, and the rotatable cutter 48, is substantiallycoincident with the inclination of the point portion of the pencil asfashioned by the cutter 40. The arm 38 is wider than necessary toproperly support the cutter and serves the purpose of a stop againstwhich the end of the pencil abuts when the pencil is inserted in thesharpener.

The sleeve 31, and consequently the cutter 40 and arm 38 are mounted foroscillation on the pin 3|. To oscillate the sleeve 3? and the cutter 40,the sleeve 3?. is provided with a projecting pin M which lies in thepath of an outturned foot 42 formed as part of a lever 43 which ispivoted at 44 to the top plate 6 of the structure. The lever 43 projectsbeyond the adjacent side surface of the structure where it is flattenedto provide a hand hold 44, as may be observed in Figures l to 4inclusive.

For maintaining the cutter til normally away from the cutting position,a spring 45 is, at one end, connected by means of a screw 48 to thesleeve 37 and, at its other end, to an extension 4? of the pivotalconnection 44 for the lever. For limiting movement of the pin AH indirection to move the cutter it away from cutting position, a stop maybe provided.

For providing stop means for the lever 43, as it is swung to move thecutter 49 against an inserted pencil, and to provide adjustment toaccommodate pencils of varying sizes, adjustable stop mechanism isherein illustrated. Pivoted at 49, on a pivot pin, in the presentinstance shown as threaded into the under surface of the top plate 6, isa bell crank having a short arm 56 and a long arm 57. The extremity ofthe short arm 56 is provided with a shoulder 58 which constitutes thestop against which the lever 43 is swung during cutting operation.

For shifting the bell crank, to vary the point of contact of theshoulder 58 by the lever 43, any suitable means may be employed. Themeans chosen to carry out this feature, in the present instance,comprises a pin 59 passing through a suitable opening 60 in the topplate 6. The inner end of the pin 5% is provided with a flat circularhead 6!, from which depends a pin or stud 62. The outer end of the pin59 is threaded to receive knurled cap 53. to the end of the pin untilsufrlcient friction or tension against the plate is reached whereuponthe cap is fastened to the pin by means of a set screw 64. This,therefore, prevents vibration of the pin and its connected stop frommisplacement during the pencil sharpening operation.

The long arm 5? of the bell crank is provided with a slot in which thestud E32 moves.

It will be observed that manipulation of the knurled cap 63 will cause acorresponding shifting movement of the shoulder 58 of the short arm 56of the bell crank and thus vary the point at which the lever 43 isbrought to rest, when it is swung in a direction to move the cutter 48against an inserted pencil.

Supported in a lateral extension 43 of the plate I is the hub 49 of agear 58. The gear 58 is arranged to mesh with the larger gear 35 of thedouble gear heretofore described. The hub 49 of the gear is suitablybushed by a bushing 5% ap The cap is threaded on plied as illustrzattedinFigure 8. -A crank 52 hub- 491 of the the top plate 6,-providedfiwithra gear :551which meshes uwith the lJJlargerv'gearQJi-IS.l of l :the: :double gear heretofore descri d, for rotating the fcutterv40 whenever thecrankzfl isioperated. l l The operationzof". the pencilsharpener 1 of; the present inventionisiasrfollowsz A pencil, .C,iszinserted in..-the sharpenerqby the v:operator. pressingithe cap .28downwardly, as observed inFigures 1,3,. lgiand 5 to release pres sureagainst the wedges; 25iwheneupon a pencil, C, maybe insertedl'andimovedinto the-sharpener until. its. .end. strikes the "arm: 38,. The operatorthen :graspsethe handle 4430113116 ,lever l-Brand swings it from dottedline to full: line position of Figure 6,;that. isrto say-@Erom .lefttoright, as viewed in Figure. 2, iwhich movement. swings the arm 38 tomove the cutter against the. pencil, as illustratedinFlgure 6.cTheoperator then.rotates the crank 52 while. maintaining pressureagainst the handle 44 of the lever 43,untilsuch timeas the pencilissharpened.;If the pencil, inserted in thesharpener, is alreadypointed,then the operator may move the lever ,43luntil-it strikes its. stop. 58,without damagexto any of the parts or to thepencil. Rotation of thecrank twill rotate thecutter ML andatthe same time-rotate thepencil C,whichis afirmly gripped-hy the wedges 25, with the-axes of rotationinthe same direction. Thisrotative movement brings about rotation of thesurfaces of the. cutter and the pencil point in oppostedirectionslat thearea; of contact, so that the sharpening operation is accelerated andthe wood-of the pencil is -smoothly removed without gougingany-of thepencil. I t When an unpointed .pencilis to. be sharpened, it is:inserted in the sharpener with its end against the. arm 38 and thensuflicient pressuretisapplied against the handle u of thelever' 43, sthe skillet the operator may dictate and the crank 52. rotated. untilthe. blunt end of the pencil is pointed whereuponthe. leverlmay befinally moved against itsstop]58 and thecompletionof the pointingoperationreached .An advantage obtainedby rotatingthe pencilsimultaneously with the cutter is thatithe .point ing operation isaccelerated, and the .point is much smoother. thanotherwise .would bethecase if the pencil were notrotatedfl v With rotary cutter Sharpen rs.on. the market at the present. time, it is .usual' f or.' ..the operatorto hold the. pencil in,.'one.,.handjandfpush it against thecutter. Theamount o f .of the pencil is guess work, and'tlthe. result oftentimes isunsatisfactory,..a's..the point oi the @lead. is many times broken,and.unlessethe hand pres sure against, the .'.pencil is applied 5gently, the wood ofthe pencil is badly torn at the. point. After thepencil has been pointed,;lpressure against the lever 3l iSreleasedwhereupon the spring 45 .functions'to move .the cutter away from thepdint, and'. the operator .then depresses the cap ."29ca'n d .lwithd awsthe ..pencil rom the apparatus. I 1 l The casing A ..'serve's...as..anenclosure fon the mechanism described, and at; .:the. lsama .Itimeserves as a (receptacle ,for theishavings, created by repetitivesharpeningoperations. When. the receptacle has ,been filled, .it. mayberemoved ,by sliding it off t "e top lplate ES", shavingsdumped,

and the casing returned". in: place .treadys doriiurther use. ::Thecasing A istremoved from and :applied to the topfiplate by movements to:the. right and leftwas viewedin Figures 1. and 3,

suitably secured to' the wallfltofrthe'ltop plate G is :the standairdxB,.by which 1 the sharpener may-be attached to a table, desk, ledge,shelf; or other support; n: I: .:f "lhe parts of :theapencilzsharpenerherein described, are in the main: manufactured as die; ca'stings sothat the costllofrassembly. is reduced ahd q-uantityproductionofithenparts is made possible. ..l l fTl'ienzinvention ahaslbeenl described herein more; or less precisely as to details, yet'itis;to be understoodthat theinvention iSvIlOlkatOj be limited thereby, aschanges maybemade in the arrangement and proportionrof .parts, andequivalents maybe substituted, without 1 departing from the spirit. andscope of the invention;

The invention is claimed as follows: l '1-.' In a pencil sharpener; a."revolvable' cutter, means mounting .saidcutterfor bodily movementtowardsand away from a-:pencil with: the

cutter axis in the same axialgrelation withre spect to the pencil axis,means .for receiving a pencilPfor presenting it in. cutting. position,means for r'otati-ngsaid cutter, and means for rotating thepencilreceiving means simultane. ously with the rotation of the cutter.l 2.21m apencil sharpener; rotatablemeans for receiving a pencil to besharpened,lmeans .for clamping a pencilin .said;.receiving means inrelatively non-rotatable relation, axially elongatedwedges'projecting..-.into the pencil space. of said first means,meansiorvexerting pressure against said wedges to move. them radiallyinward, means for relieving pressure against said wedges to enableinsertionand :removal of l a pencil, and meansforrotating saidpencilreceiving means. and cutter for sharpening purposes. 3. Inapencilsharpener'of the rotatablecutter type, means .for;.mountingwthecutter for bodily moving it in an arcuate path, towards andaway from the pencil axis to vary the cutting effect of thecutteragainst an inserted pencil, and means normally maintainingsaidcutter moved away from cutting p sition, i v v 4. In a pencilsharpener of the rotary cutter type, means for receiving a pencil'toloesharpened, means mounting the cutter and supporting itlfor movementtowards and away from an in-. sertedpencil, and meansnormallymaintaining said-.cutter moved away from cutting position,

and means for moving said cutter against a penoil for sharpening it. l r

5.- A pencilsha-rpener including a frame comprising a base,- an uprightand a horizontally exe tending top plate; a boxlike casing slidablysupported on said top ture; means in said top plate for receiving andsupporting a pencil-in vertical position; means including provision for.clamping .an inserted pencil and; holding it against movementfrelatively to the receiving'means; a rotatable cutter supported by and belowsaid top plate .and'having its; axis inclined to the vertical; meansmounting said cutterfor swinging it. toward and away from an insertedpencil; means normally maintaining saidcutter swung away from flcutgting position; a oranksupported in said upright; and gear connectionsbetween said crank, cutter, and pencil receivingmeans fo'rrotating thjecutlter and pencil receivingmeans whenever'th'e .crankisactuated,

plate to complete thestrum prising a base, an upright and a horizontallyextending top plate; a box like casing slidably supported on said topplate to complete the structure; means in said top plate for receivingand supporting a pencil in vertical position; means including provisionfor clamping an inserted pencil and holding it against movementrelatively to the receiving-means; a rotatable cutter supported by andbelow said top plate and having its axis inclined to the vertical; meansfor swinging said cutter toward and away from an inserted pencil; meansfor normally maintaining said cutter swung away from cutting position; acrank supportedin said upright; and gear connections between said crank,cutter, and pencil receiving means for rotating the cutter and pencilreceiving means whenever the crank is actuated, and in such directionsthat the engaging surfaces of the cutter and pencil rotate in oppositedirections. I

7. A pencil sharpener including a frame comprising a base, an upright,and a horizontal extending top plate; a box like casing slidablysupported on said topplate to complete the structure; said top platehaving a counter bore in its under surface to receive a spur gear; aspur gear in said counter bore having a plurality of axially extendingradially spaced segmental parts defining a pencil receiving space; acollar surrounding said segmental parts and having internal wedgesmovable in the spaces between said segmental parts; other complementalwedges in said spaces between said segmental parts movable radiallythereof by axial movement of said collar; a ring overlying the outer endof said segmental parts and secured to said spur gear by bolts passingaxially through said segmental parts; springs about said bolts betweensaid gear and lugs of said collar tending to urge said collar away fromsaid gear to normally hold said other wedges projected; and a capoverlying said collar and ring and being apertured to receive a penciland serving as a finger rest to push said collar to release a pencil.

8. A pencil sharpener including a frame comprising a base, an upright,and a horizontally extending top plate; a box like casing slidablysupported on said top plate to complete the structure; means in said topplate for receiving and supporting a pencil in vertical position; saidmeans including provision for clamping an inserted pencil and holding itagainst movement with respect to the receiving means; a sleeve dependentfrom said top plate and having aradial arm for supporting a rotarycutter, a rotary cutter supported by said arm; manually operable meansfor swinging said cutter against a pencil; spring means for swinging thecutter away from a pencil; a crank; and gear means operable by saidcrank for simultaneously rotating the cutter and said pencil receivingmeans.

9. A pencil sharpener including a frame comprising a base, an upright,and a horizontally extending top plate; a box like casing slidablysupported on said top plate to complete the structure; means in said topplate for receiving and supporting a pencil in vertical position; saidlast means including wedge means movable bodily in vertical planesinwardly and outwardly for clamping a pencil in said first means andholding it against movement with respect to the same; spring urgedcooperating complementarilyshaped wedge means for holding said firstwedge means against a pencil; said last means being manually 2,082;785-6. A pencil sharpener including a frame com-,

operableto release a pencil; a crank; and gear means operable by saidcrank for,. simulta neously rotating ,the cutter .and--;-said pencilreceiving means.

10. A pencil sharpener comprising a frame, a casing slidably associatedwith said frame, pencil receiving and holding .means in the-top plate ofsaid frame adapted to receive and hold a pencil in vertical position, anabutmentagainst which the end of said pencil stops when inserted forsharpening, a rotatable cutter mounted to swing away froman insertedpencil and its axis at an angle to the pencil manually operable meansfor swinging said cutter against the pencil, a crank, and gear meansoperable by said crank forsimultaneously rotating the cutter and saidfirst mentioned means.

11. A pencil sharpener including a frame comprising a base, an upright,and-a horizontally extending top plate; a box like casing slidablysupported on said top plate to complete the structure; said top platehaving'a counter bore in it to receive a spur gear; a spur gear in saidcounter bore and having a plurality of axially extending radially spacedsegmental parts defining a pencil ter away from a pencil.

12. In a pencil sharpener of the rotary cutter means for receiving aholding the cutter against a pencil.

13. In a pencil sharpener of the rotatable type, means mounting thecutter for bodily'movement ment of the cutter against a pencil, andmeans operable manually for adjusting said sto'p'means to accommodatethe cutter to pencils of varying sizes.

14. In a pencil sharpener, means for receiving and gripping a pencilduring the sharpening operation, a cutter movable towards and away froman inserted pencil, a lever for moving said cutter, a fixed stop forlimiting movement of the cutter in a direction away from a pencil,adjustable stop means for limiting the movement of the cutter in adirection towards an inserted pencil, said latter means including a bellcrank have one arm adapted to be engaged by the lever when swung in adirection to move the cutter towards a pencil,' and manually operablemeans for shifting the bell crank about its pivot to change the point ofcontact between the short arm of the bell crank and said lever.

15. In a pencil sharpener of the box type, means for receiving andgripping a pencil to be sharpened with its point within the box, acutting element within thebox movable towards and away from an insertedpencil, a lever projecting through the box for moving said cuttertowards and away from a pencil, and an adjustable stop means manuallyoperable outwardly of the box for limiting the movement of the cutter byits lever towards and against a pencil to be 1() sharpened.

MARTIN BERSTED.

